Being Second
An Egoshipping Fanfiction
by: i need sleep

A/N: Internet's back, and here's the fifth chapter! I was sincerely overwhelmed with people's reactions; thank you for the reviews guys! I hope you like this chapter-I tried to brush back on my characterization and I hope it still rings true. :) Thanks to everyone who put this on Story alert or favourites as well! :D

Disclaimer: I'm a girl, and my name is not Satoshi Tajiri. I don't own Nintendo or Pokemon either. Stop driving me to depression.

Chapter 5: Shop til they drop

Gary Oak had always despised shopping, especially with his older sister. There was some sort of switch in girls – a switch that makes them suddenly take longer than usual to decide on something so trivial.

"Should I get this black top?" He recalled his sister asking, lifting a lace trimmed black shirt, "Or this?" she lifted a similar looking one. She looked absolutely confused, and with a sigh, Gary replied,

"They both look the same to me."

She had glared at him, and began what seemed like a five hour long lecture on the finer details of each shirt, both of which bored Gary to death.

And which made him traumatized.

He glanced apprehensively at Misty and Mrs Ketchum. Shopping with one girl was horrid enough; now, he was sent shopping with two.

What punishment.

He looked around and feigned interest. Why was he there again? Oh, that's right; for some reason, he's helping with Ash's 18th. They were civil towards each other, but… they were far from best friends. Why did he agree?

Oh, yes. "Because the party also needs a male touch," his grandfather had reasoned.

"We don't even talk much anymore, Gramps," Gary whined, flipping himself over and bookmarking his thick encyclopedia. "How will I be of much help? If Mrs K wanted a male touch, shouldn't she have called the other gym leader Ash travelled with?"

"Travels," the old professor corrected. "Brock Slate, you mean? He's still travelling with Ash, Gary."

He looked shocked. "I thought he went home when the other gym leader did."

Professor Oak (that is, Samuel), shook his head. "He resumed travelling with Ash. Besides," he sat at the edge of the couch, next to Gary's legs, "You two are childhood friends!"

With a grumble, the young brunette buried his head into the pillows. "Were."

"Hmmm, well, you can't cancel on her now."

This is how he found himself in Celadon, scanning store windows for something he could get his former best friend.

-o-

Celadon was as beautiful as Misty remembered. She hadn't set foot in the bright city since her travels with Ash, and that was almost six years ago. Wow, she thought, as she continued to look around, letting her eyes travel and her attention be occupied.

Delia Ketchum pointed to a Pokémon themed store and said, "I know my Ash is still a bit childish!" She made a beeline for the store and Gary and Misty followed like sheep, mouths opening in awe as they entered the vibrant shop.

The walls were lined with several plush toys, ranging from Bulbasaur to Shaymin. The shopkeeper was a friendly looking woman who welcomed Delia and the two teenagers with a warm smile.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

Ash's mother immediately dragged her into conversation, approaching a wall filled with Pokémon themed party favours. Misty headed straight for a cute looking Poliwhirl plush doll which caught her eye, and Gary turned to examine the craftsmanship of the nearest doll, which ended up being an Umbreon.

"This is so cute!" Misty exclaimed, and the 17 year old gym leader was turned into mush at the mercy of cotton Pokémon. She placed the Poliwhirl plush to grab a Pikachu plush and checked the bottom of its foot for the price tag.

Gary chuckled, as he placed the Umbreon doll down, to grab an Eevee doll instead. "Ashy-boy would like that, Scarlet."

She glared. "Misty," she reminded, as she continued to hold the Pikachu close. "I think I'll get this one for him, yeah," she agreed with his statement.

He walked over to the east wall covered in glass. Behind the glass rested beautiful Pokémon figurines, each made of what seemed like porcelain. He stared at a specific one which sat at the top right; it was a figurine of Umbreon, Espeon and an hourglass. It looked magnificent, of course, beautifully crafted.

"That's handcrafted," a gentle old voice reached his ears, and he whipped around to find the old shop owner. "Espeon and Umbreon compliment each other, like day and night."

He nodded, "True." He stared at the hourglass and smiled to himself, "How much is it?"

"$85.00."

"I'll take it," she nodded, and with the key that hung on her neck, unlocked the glass door. They headed towards the counter and Misty followed suit, as Delia walked around the shop, checking the items that littered the walls.

"Wow," Misty exclaimed, as the shop lady took a box from under the counter, wrapping the hourglass in bubble wrap. "That's beautiful."

The brunette professor nodded, "I agree," he said, softly. "Totally worth $85.00."

He watched as she placed it carefully in a box, and thanked her quietly as she handed him his purchase. "Enjoy," she said, as she handed him his change and the bag that contained his new hourglass. Misty smiled as she watched him carry it, his eyes lit up like a little kid in Christmas.

He really loves his Umbreon, she thought, as she turned to watch Delia examine things on shelves. "Delia," she called as she approached the older woman with a Pokédex shaped place card in hand. "I think Ash would like this..."

-o-

Sigh. This is absolutely boring, Gary thought, as he scanned the clothes store for Delia and Misty. Both had forced (or somehow made Gary agree) him to let them "look around" in the shop because "there's a once-in-a-lifetime sale on." He was now bored to death, waiting on them, his arms draped with clothes.

"Oh my," Delia shared a look with Misty as she held a beautiful, olive green silk shirt, "This is beautiful! And just my size!"

The red-head nodded, "Mmm, you should take it, Mrs. Ketchum!"

She laughed, "I think I'll try it first. It is quite expensive! Gary, dear," she addressed the bored looking young man, "Oh, you look like Ash everytime I take him shopping with me." She laughed at the memory but waved it off. "Do you mind holding these?"

He shook his head no—after all, it was the polite thing to do. "I'll hold on to them while you try that on, Mrs K."

She gladly left for the fitting rooms and Gary found himself in the company of Misty, who was looking through the nearest racks.

"What is with women and shopping?"

She growled, "What is with men and not being patient?"

He glared, irritated. "Well, why do you womenfolk take ages," he elongated the word to emphasize his point, "to actually pick something to get! You take 10, 20 clothes off the rack and buy only 3!"

"Got a problem with that?"

He visibly reddened. "Yes!" He groaned, "It's a waste of time!"

She glared daggers at him. "A waste of time?" She crossed her arms (well, tried to, as her hands were full) "You won't be able to find a girlfriend with an attitude like that!"

"Psh," he mocked her, "With my dashing good looks, I'm sure I will."

"Whatever."

"Ha," he snickered. "I'm pretty sure I can make you," he pointed at her, ignoring her glare, "my girlfriend."

She shook her head, walking away from him. "Whatever, Oak; whatever." She stopped in front of a rack, grabbing a dress at what seemed like light speed. She immediately held it up to her chest, "How do I look in it?" She asked excitedly. The shirt's colour caught her eye, and she immediately imagined herself wearing it. Since the mirror was too far, she decided to ask the shopping pessimist.

"Gorgeous," he said sincerely, as he leaned against the closest rack. "Maybe more so if you try…" He grabbed a random shirt. "This!" He lifted a shirt from the clearance rack. It looked hideous, the colours clashing. It seemed that the rack Gary was leaning against wasn't "the clearance rack," but the "reject rack."

She laughed, humouring him, holding the shirt up to her chest. She struck a pose, and Gary himself laughed. "Well, does it suit me?" she asked in a sickly sweet voice.

He gave her two thumbs up, "Definitely."

They stared at each other and laughed, before putting the shirt back and grabbing the most horrid ones they can find.

Needless to say, it was the first time ever that Gary Oak wasn't bored clothes shopping with a woman.

-o-

They left the shop after an hour or so of scanning. Delia had bought only 5 shirts after trying several dozens, and Misty had only bought 3. The young Oak had mocked her to no end with it.

"Told you, Red!" He snickered, as she continued to glare, her hands on her hips. "You try 20 clothes and buy. Only. Three!"

"Shut up, Gary," Misty muttered as Delia laughed in the corner, clutching her bags tightly.

"Having a good day so far, Gary?" Misty asked as they continued to roam the streets of Celadon.

He nodded, "Yeah, I am, Red, now that I'm out of that stupid shop. You?"

She ignored his "Red" quip. "It's alright," she replied, holding her new Pikachu plush close. In her head, she imagined Togepi back in her arms.

"Where is your Togepi?" Gary asked, as he took note of the way she held her Pikachu. "Don't you usually have that little egg with you?"

She shook her head. "Togepi's in Togepi Mirage, as a protector. I had to leave him there. And he's not a Togepi anymore," she hugged the plush tighter, "He evolved into a Togetic."

He nodded carefully. "I see," he said, "Must've been hard for you. I can't imagine leaving any of my Pokémon, no matter what…"

"Mmm," she looked glumly at the ground ahead, "Well, it was for the good of the Mirage."

"Still."

They walked in silence a few meters behind Delia, and Gary checked his watch. "Mrs Ketchum!" he called, as he jogged ahead of Misty. "It's almost 5. If we leave now, we'll make it to Pallet by 7:30."

"Oh, dear!" She exclaimed, as she checked her own watch. "Time flies when you're having fun!" She giggled, pointing to a nearby Chinese restaurant. "Let's have some dinner before hand, kids, what do you say?"

They both nodded, not wanting to be hungry on the drive back to Pallet town.

-o-

They arrived in Pallet Town at 7:00, tired. "Well, Gary, we'll see you tomorrow!" Delia cheerfully announced as she and Misty unloaded their things from the back of the convertible. Misty was staying the night as more preparations are needed tomorrow.

He tipped an imaginary hat at them. "No problem, Mrs. K," he winked at Misty. "See you around, Mist."

A/N: Yay, or Nay?